Benefits cheat caught after boasts of luxury cruise on Facebook

A COVENTRY man who boasted of his holidays, properties and businesses on Facebook has been ordered to pay back more than £20,000 after being caught swindling thousands of pounds out of Coventry City Council.

Jonathan McGrory, of Nuffield Road, Courthouse Green, was snared by the city council’s benefit fraud team after falsely claiming housing and council tax benefit while secretly enjoying a “luxurious” lifestyle over a three-year period.

The team began investigating the 39-year-old after receiving an anonymous tip-off, claiming he owned a property he was claiming rent for.

In an interview under caution he admitted to officers he did own the property and also a second property, which he also rented out.

He told them he couldn’t afford to live in the houses he owned so stayed in the house he rented himself and got benefit for it.

However investigators found he lived a more luxurious lifestyle than he let on and had recently been enjoyed a cruise costing £4,000.

He had also posted on Facebook and Friends Reunited that he owned several properties and businesses.

In total McGory had been overpayed £11,106.48 in housing benefit and £1,348.26 in council tax benefit between August 2004 and June 2007.

In April this year he pleaded guilty to four offences of making false statements, failing to declare he owned two properties for which he was receiving a rental income.

He was sentenced to eight weeks in prison, suspended for a year, and given a 12-month supervision order.

He must also pay back the £12,454.74 overpayment.

Following the case the council made a proceeds of crime application and this week a confiscation order was made at Coventry Crown Court.

The order gives McGrory six months to pay a further £7,224.80. He will have 12 months to pay if he has to sell one of his properties to meet the repayment.

Coun Kevin Foster, deputy leader of Coventry City Council, said: “This man not only had the arrogance to think he could defraud the system, but also the sheer stupidity to boast about his luxurious lifestyle.

"Thankfully another person had the community spirit to ring the fraud hotline and help save the public a lot of money.”

This article was taken from the Coventry Telegraph, with thanks.